Baseball

Astros beat Rangers to register 10th win in a row

ABS-CBN Sports on Jun 05, 2017 12:12 PM

Houston Astros' George Springer (4) and Carlos Correa (1) celebrate Springer's solo home run that came off a pitch from Texas Rangers' Martin Perez in the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, June 4, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

The Associated Press

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — George Springer hit two of Houston's four home runs as the Astros matched their state rival for the longest winning streak in the major leagues this season at 10 games, beating the Texas Rangers 7-2 on Sunday.

The Astros scored in all four innings pitched by Martin Perez (2-6) and tied a club record from 1989 with their 10th straight road win. Houston's first sweep of Texas since July 2014 dropped the Rangers to 3-11 since their 10-game streak.

Defending AL West champion Texas (26-31) is 15 games behind the division-leading Astros, who have the major leagues' best record at 41-16 — and six wins in seven games against the Rangers.

Nicholas Castellanos was hit by a pitch from David Robertson (3-2), and second baseman Yolmer Sanchez then misplayed a potential double-play ball and was only able to get Miguel Cabrera at first. J.D. Martinez was intentionally walked, and Upton hit his 11th homer.

Martinez also connected for the Tigers, who have won four straight. Justin Wilson (3-1) pitched a scoreless inning.

Todd Frazier led off the third with his eighth homer, lifting the White Sox to a 2-0 lead, and Verlander left after a four-pitch walk.

CUBS 7, CARDINALS 6

CHICAGO (AP) — Ian Happ hit two homers before pinch hitter Jon Jay drove in the go-ahead run in the seventh with a single as the Chicago Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals to complete a three-game sweep.

Happ staked Chicago to a 6-4 lead with a solo homer in the third and a three-run drive in the fourth against Michael Wacha.

Jay, batting for reliever Pedro Strop (2-2), broke a 6-6 tie with his two-out single off Matt Bowman (1-2) in the seventh. Anthony Rizzo had three hits and scored the go-ahead run as the Cubs (28-27) moved back over .500 with their 10th home win in 12 games.

Stephen Piscotty hit a three-run homer in the fourth off Kyle Hendricks. The Cardinals tied it with two in the sixth against Hector Rondon, only to lose for the eighth time in 11 games.

Matt Wieters and Michael Taylor added back-to-back homers off Frankie Montas during Washington's five-run ninth, helping the NL East leaders improve to 5-1 on their nine-game West Coast trip.

But the Nationals nearly blew an 11-4 lead in the ninth, highlighting their continued trouble with closing out games. Koda Glover allowed the first five batters to reach before he was replaced by Shawn Kelley, who surrendered a grand slam by Matt Joyce with one out. Kelley then retired the next two batters for his fourth save in six tries.

Khris Davis had three hits and two RBIs for Oakland, including his 17th homer.

BLUE JAYS 3, YANKEES 2

TORONTO (AP) — Justin Smoak hit a tying two-run homer off Luis Severino in the sixth inning while Josh Donaldson homered against Tyler Clippard (0-3) in the eighth as Toronto gained a four-game split despite going 0 for 24 in the series with runners in scoring position

Matt Holliday hit an RBI double in the fourth off Marcus Stroman and a run-scoring double-play grounder in the sixth.

Joe Smith (2-0) struck out two in a perfect eighth and Roberto Osuna pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his 13th save.

MARLINS 6, DIAMONDBACKS 5

MIAMI (AP) — A.J. Ellis hit a tiebreaking single on the 14th pitch of an at-bat against Archie Bradley in the seventh.

Tyler Moore hit a three-run homer and Derek Dietrich had a pair of sacrifice flies for Miami, which finished an 8-2 homestand.

Nick Wittgren (1-0) got two outs around a walk in the seventh. A.J. Ramos pitched a 1-2-3 ninth to remain perfect in eight save chances.

ROCKIES 3, PADRES 1

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Jeff Hoffman cruised through seven innings for Colorado while Trevor Story had two hits and two RBIs.

Hoffman (3-0) struck out nine after being called up from the minors to fill in for Tyler Anderson, sidelined by a left knee injury. The rookie right-hander allowed a run and San Diego's only three hits as Colorado took three of four in the series.

Greg Holland pitched the ninth for his major league-leading 21st save in 21 chances, extending his franchise record for consecutive conversions to start a season.

Hunter Renfroe hit his 11th homer for San Diego and Jarred Cosart (0-2) allowed three runs and six hits in four-plus innings.

BRAVES 13, REDS 8

CINCINNATI (AP) — Ender Inciarte tied his career high with five hits and drove in a career-high five runs.

Atlanta set a season high for runs. Danny Santana had four hits and three RBIs, including his first home run since being acquired from Minnesota on May 8 and Matt Adams homered for the third time in two games.

Cincinnati lost for the fifth time in six games. Zack Cozart homered twice and drove in five runs but Amir Garrett (3-4) gave up nine runs and seven hits over 2 2/3 innings in his first start since May 23 after being sidelined with right hip inflammation.

PIRATES 11, METS 1

NEW YORK (AP) — David Freese drove in three runs, including an RBI single.

Andrew McCutchen hit a three-run homer, got three hits and scored three times to back rookie Trevor Williams (3-3), who gave up one run in a career-high seven innings. Freese and Francisco Cervelli each had three hits.

The Pirates turned four double plays and took two of three at Citi Field, their first road series win since late April in Miami.

Andrew Benintendi had his first multihomer game. Boston broke a sixth-inning tie by scoring two unearned runs on a throwing error by catcher Francisco Pena, and Benintendi's second homer made it 6-3 in the seventh.

PHILLIES 9, GIANTS 7

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Maikel Franco hit a tiebreaking solo homer in the eighth off Derek Law (3-1) and Freddy Galvis homered from both sides of the plate. Odubel Herrera also went deep as Philadelphia earned its first series victory in six weeks.

Brandon Crawford homered and drove in four runs and Eduardo Nunez also connected for San Francisco, which has lost seven of 10.

Dan Otero (1-0) replaced Cleveland starter Trevor Bauer after the delay and allowed one hit over 2 1/3 innings to earn his first win since Sept. 22, when he also got the decision in relief against Kansas City.

Jason Kipnis homered and drove in two for the Indians. Robertson finished with three RBIs.

TWINS 3, ANGELS 2

ANAHEIM, California (AP) — A video review overturned Ben Revere's stolen base and changed the call to a caught stealing for the final out with the replay determining he overslid second as shortstop Ehire Adrianza tagged him on his left foot.

Miguel Sano hit a go-ahead, two-run homer in the sixth Ricky Nolasco (2-6), who lost his fourth straight start.

Revere's RBI single in the fourth off Jose Berrios (4-1) had given the Angels a 2-1 lead. Brandon Kintzler pitched the ninth for his 15th save

MARINERS 7, RAYS 1

SEATTLE (AP) — Ariel Miranda (6-2) pitched a four-hitter, struck out a career-high nine and walked one in his first big league complete game as Seattle finished a series sweep.

Nelson Cruz hit a two-run homer and Mike Zunino picked up two more RBIs in Seattle's seventh win in eight games. Jarrod Dyson also drove in two runs.